6.7 miles E of Polzeath / Sleeps 2 (no children under 16)

Nearest pub

This 15th Century village pub was once home to the masons and craftsmen who constructed the nearby church of St James the Great. Today, you will find a welcoming bar and restaurant, with blazing fire in the winter, and a large beer garden for those balmy Cornish summer evenings. Look out for the resident ghost.

May 2017

Best pub in the arae

Excellent pub food. Best in the area. Good real ale and great pub food consistent performance and very popular so need to book in season.

September 2012

idyllic country pub

A warm welcome and helpful staff. The food was great - the haddock kedgeree was worth the trip alone.

Picturesque 15th Century village pub serving beer from wooden barrels and excellent homecooked food prepared to order by hosts Paul Ripley and Sarah Allen. One of the most beautiful and atmospheric pubs in Cornwall. - Mr and Mrs Whitten

Nearest beach

Due to its sheltered nature this narrow cove is very safe for children offering a small sandy beach with rock pools to explore at low tide. In a peaceful beach-front village around the headland of Port Isaac, the beach is overlooked by high cliffs on either side with amenities close to hand.

Mr Mann
June 2009

Pretty and safe beach for children

We spent a lovely day on the beach at Port Gaverne - exploring rockpools at high tide and paddling in the safe shallow sandy waters at low tide. Finished off with a beach barbeque and grilled some fresh mackerel landed from a friendly fisherman's boat. Perfect.

Nearest walk

Take this five and a half mile ramble from St Kew to the villages of St Endillion and Tregellist. The walk takes in a woodland path and country lanes. Pop in to Trevathan fruit farm en-route. Take a look at the iwalkcormwall website for further details and other lovely walks in the area.

Nearest town

When you think of a Cornish seaside destination, images of Port Isaac will come to mind. A quintessential Cornish fishing village, it is a popular holiday destination so there are plenty of self catering cottages in Port Isaac to choose from. With fisherman’s cottages forming narrow winding streets leading steeply down to the stone walled harbour, dotted with colourful vessels of all shapes and sizes. In fact many of the streets here are so traditional and narrow, including the aptly-named ‘Squeezebelly Alley’, a car is not an option so leave it behind while you take to exploring the architecture by foot. Many of the old buildings are listed as being of historical importance and certainly add to the ambience. The fishing industry is still at work here, left over from its days as a busy coastal port in the mid-19th Century.
The inspiration for many a painting, there are plenty of photo opportunities to be had with the lobster cages and wooden rowing boats along the harbour wall. Set down on the seashore, the surrounding area is very hilly and steep, which allows for far reaching views, and several pretty streams wind their way down to the waterfront. Take a boat trip for a spot of sea fishing or just a scenic float-along during the holiday season or walk along the coastal path for panoramic sea views and dramatic cliffs.

The village of Port Isaac, is now most recognisable as Port Wenn, thanks to being chosen as the setting for the television series, Doc Martin. However, many other movies and tv programs have been filmed here such as ‘Saving Grace’ (again, starring Martin Clunes) and ‘Amy Foster’ with Sir Ian McKellen. It was also frequently used as a set for the Poldark series. The locals are very welcoming and are a tourist attraction in their own right with the formation of Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends - a group of Cornish shanty singers with a strong following.

A holiday in a Port Isaac cottage will be an excellent way to explore the north coast as there are many good beaches nearby such as the surfing beach of Polzeath and the family-friendly wide stretch of sand at Daymer Bay, which is also dog-friendly. It’s only a short drive to bigger towns such as Padstow, famed for its Rick Stein dominated restaurants, and Tintagel with the historic castle ruins. Being on the north coast, it is close to the Camel Trail which follows the River Camel to Padstow, an excellent cycling, walking or horse riding route.

Mrs Mitchell
September 2012

Just like it is on the telly!!

Port Isaac is truey lovely to visit whether you are aware of the Doc Martin show or not, but if you love the show a visit here is a must!

Mr Mann
June 2009

Doc Martin Filming in Port Isaac

They are presently filming a new series of Doc Martin in Port Isaac so keep your eyes open for Martin Clunes and the rest of the cast and crew. And when you get home it's great fun to spot the scenes you saw being filmed!

Also nearby

Feeling artistic? Try your hand at some pottery, still life or life drawing classes with potter Jon Whitten. Jon, whose work can be found in collections in Europe, Japan, New Zealand and the US, specialises in contemporary, wheel thrown pottery, a large collection of which is on display here, and is available to buy.

September 2017

If the weather is not so good!

I should have said whether the weather is good or bad an interesting couple of hours learning the art of pottery with your host Jon. Can even take your works of art (or otherwise!) back home with you. Thank you, Jon.

Be transported to faraway lands at the wonderful Eden Project. An educational charity and social enterprise, the Eden Project teaches visitors all about global environments and the importance of sustainability. Get lost in the tropics before stopping in the Med, who knows where your day could take you.

October 2018

Worth a visit

Worth a visit but look out for discount codes or vouchers as can be expensive to get in but ticket valid for a year.Visited a few years ago so wanted to revisit to see what had changed or improved. The plants in the domes have grown in to good sized plants. A few more sculptures & places to eat.Vicki T

Mrs May
April 2016

Great for families

We've been several times and always had fun. You can get annual tickets when you gift aid your entry which is very worthwhile as it isn't cheap. Went twice over Easter week once going in as it opened and enjoying the biomes in the pouring rain! Core building also great for kids and not as busy as biomes. We went again later in the day another day and discovered that you can have an evening meal in the Mediterranean biome midweek from Easter to October which was a lovely treat and then they give you a lift back up the hill afterwards! Staying til it closes gives you a quieter time too!

Mrs Rowan
August 2015

Amazing place, well worth a visit

Mrs Owen
August 2014

A fun day at Eden

Myself and my two children (aged 4 and 7) visited Eden Project during the school holidays. We had a great day out which was enjoyed by all. The Biomes were busy at times but there was plenty of little hideaway places outside to get away from the crowd and recharge the batteries. We took our own picnic so don't know about pricing / food of the onsite eateries but I can say that the ice creams were lovely and in my opinion great value at £2 each.

Mr Veranneman
November 2012

Simply great !

Last year we bought an annual ticket and could visit The Eden Project 3 times. Every time we went it was a great day out !

Mrs Reade
October 2012

Eden Project

Excellent all round.including zip wire!

September 2012

We went on a rainy day in the summer hols and understandably everyone else had the same idea so it was packed. It was nice to see the iconic biomes and interesting to look round but we thought it was very expensive for what it was - £60 for 4 of us plus we ate there so an extra £40 for that. We also seemed to spend a lot of time queuing for food, to look round the biomes, for the park and ride etc . We would go back but perhaps out of season to have chance to explore fully. We'd also look round for cheaper tickets!!

August 2012

Have wanted to visit here for many years. It was quite interesting, the Biomes were amazing to look at from the outside. We bought tickets from the tourist information centre before we visited which they sell at discounted prices and also went after 3.30pm when entrance is less. The cakes in the cafe were all a bit stale, at nearly £40 for a piece of cake and a drink for 7 of us we thought they would be lovely and were not so good. Maybe it was a bad day for cake. Glad to have visited, would probably only go once.

June 2012

good value with stores vouchers....

Visited for the first time 10 years ago, and of course in 10 years it HAS changed...more grown up, but we remarked to each other many times that it didn't feel as "magical" as the first time we wound our way down to the domes. The large 'flags' have gone that marked the way down the paths.....perhaps that was it? entrance was £23 each for adults & £9.50 each for kids....So to be honest we really wouldn't have visited had it not been for a certain store voucher scheme that meant we payed £5 each and the kids £2.50 each ...so we did treat ourselves to lunch..£5 for most mains with salad or new potatoes....YUMMY, filling & VERY good value, with free pitchers of water on the tables and help yourself mugs hang above - all very handy. Plenty to see and do although our kids sped around the place and ended up where they REALLY wanted to be..in the shop. A great day out though , as they slept like logs on the way home!

Mrs Marsh
April 2012

What a wonderful way to spend a day. The weather was perfect for us, but that didn't matter as it would be okay on a poor day at Eden. It was early in the year when we visited but still plenty to see and do.Had lunch there and it was very good value for money.We will be back!

September 2011

Definitely lived up to expectations and has grown considerably in content since our last visit 9 years ago.

Mr McMahon
July 2011

Its excellent, go and have a great day.

Mr Morgan
July 2011

Absolutely fabulous. The highspot of our holiday. So much to see and enjoy, will definitely return.

June 2011

We felt that £20 per adult was a lot to pay, yes there was plenty to see; however, on a wet, cold, windy day walking the outside paths was not great.The two domes well worth seeing, but again not worth £40. We came away saying to each other that we felt the Eden Project to be a great Educational Centre for children, schools and colleges to visit, there were other gardens we visited in Cornwall we felt much better value.

January 2011

Eden Sessions

There aren't may concert venues where there are no queues for the loo or the bar! A great venue with staff who actually smile - and if you don't like the band you can always wander around a biome (or two).

Mr Cornish
February 2009

Amazing

The Eden Project really is somewhere very special. Leave loads of time to look around and I would recommend staying for the evening as this is when the place really comes alive. The lighting and scenery in the evening has to been seen to be believed, it’s so beautiful.

February 2009

Lucy
December 2008

A great day out with loads to do for all ages. In winter, skating on the ice rink is great fun and the hot, tropical Biome is a great antedote for the winter blues. There's lots of delicious food to choose from in the cafes and restaurants too.

September 2008

Fabulous day out

The biomes are amazing, and the educational centre is interesting too. Watch the film on the making of Eden. It's a good couple of hours long but worth it. With ice skating and gigs playing at this exciting venue too it makes a good day out for all the family.

Miss Denness
August 2008

Eden Sessions and Biomes

My trip to The Eden Project was amazing. I visited in the summer to see a band and included in the ticket was access to the rest of the grounds; we went early and took a trip around the Biomes before the gig started. The sound quality from the open-air gig was fantastic, I would definitely recommend going if you get the chance (but remember tickets sell out fast!).

July 2008

Plants and gigs!

A visit to the Eden Project is a must. The biomes which house the plants from all over the world are amazing! And if you get chance to see a gig then it will be an experience you will not forget - tickets are often sold out!

A beautifully restored traditional whitewashed inn in an outstanding location.

Mrs Cray
July 2014

We had a fantastic meal on our last night at Port Gaverne. The staff were very obliging and helpful, as we were a large party we were able to have the upstairs lounge with a balcony and lovely views over the harbour. We will definitely eat here again if we are in the area.

Mr Mann
January 2010

Fantastic old fashioned pub next to the beach

The Port Gaverne is a lovely traditional inn with a great atmosphere and just across the road from Port Gaverne beach. The food is very nice - hearty and home cooked.

Fine dining on the north Cornwall coast. Food is beautifully prepared and cooked to order. You can also wander around the Victorian gardens which are adjacent to the hotel.

Mrs Lonsdale
July 2012

The Longcross Hotel

About 3 miles from Port Gaverne the hotel has wonderful views from its terrace and lovely Victorian gardens. We always visit to have lunch or dinner. The food is always great and the staff friendly and helpful.

Mrs Horry
July 2011

Wonderful location with beautiful views over the bay. Very child friendly and helpful staff ensure the children are happy with colouring pads and pens so mum and dad can enjoy their meal!!Wonderful food and not too expensive for the beautiful surroundings. Would highly recommend.

The remains of Tintagel Castle are at the heart of Arthurian legend. The location of the castle is spectacular – half a mile outside of Tintagel, across rugged clifftops, with no vehicular access. Tintagel Island, attached to the mainland by a sliver of land, enhances the wild and romantic atmosphere.

David Brear
October 2015

Take your time

Leave unsteady members of the family at the café while more active members tackle the many uneven, high, sometimes slippery steps (handrails are provided - use them!). Enjoy the excellent information centre which uses an innovative overhead projector to show the succeeding occupations of the site. There is a café and toilets, and a Land Rover to run you down and back if the walk down the valley isn't for you. This is a uniquely precious historical site, the first to show how dark age Britain was actually still firmly connected to Mediterranean civilisation. Its legendary connection to king Arthur led to the construction of the Norman castle, but don't let the historical fiction mislead you - this is a real site where hundreds of people lived and traded for centuries at the edge of the Atlantic long before the Saxons took over Cornwall. The dramatic cliffs, the birds, the butterflies will all make this a day to remember.

February 2014

Worth the climb!

A visit to Tintagel is a must when visiting this part of the world! The Castle has breathtaking views,but is a steep climb up to the top. The village has lots of friendly gift shops and good pubs to choose from.

April 2012

Awesome. A must see and you can even take your dog up the cliffs and around the ruins.Thank you English Heritage.

Mrs Harding
April 2012

Nice but you must be fit

This is a lovely old ruin split between 2 cliffs. To access both involve very steep steps. You must be very fit but its a nice day out.

Mrs Lansley
October 2011

Tintagel and Trebarwith Strand

Although we stayed an hour away it was really worth the visit. My second visit in 10 years and so nice to see nothing had changed. Extremely steep slopes to climb - good steps and rails to hang on to but no access for wheelchairs or disabled! You must go on a good sunny day to take advantage of the views around. Always windy and blowy there.

Trebarwith Strand is just around the corner and is so worth the visit as the rock formation to get the beach is really worth seeing. Very natural but again no real access for wheelchairs or disabled really.